Wimbledon 2025 – Victoria Mboko, from lucky loser to first-round winner
Such a late change of plans could easily disrupt the preparations of any athlete, not least an 18-year-old. But you just have to watch Mboko in action to understand that she plays far beyond her years, demonstrating tactical prowess and clean shot-making that fully justify her place at the Grand Slam table.
She explained of the situation, “I would understand why I would be such a disadvantage, but I think for this instance, it helped me a lot, because I was so relaxed and I had no thought in my mind that I was going to play a match.
“Because it was just such a relaxing morning and so slow and chilled, I didn’t really feel any nerves going into it. It helped me be a lot looser on court because I technically wasn’t supposed to be there.”
With the music of fellow Canadian Drake to get her into game mode and the pressure afar from her shoulders, Mboko dispatched Fręch in 73 minutes to advance to round two.
Tuesday’s victory was special for many reasons: not only was it her debut on the grounds of Wimbledon, yet it also fell on Canada Day. Her best major performance came at Roland-Garros this year, a run to the third round on the clay courts of Paris.
Next up for the 18-year-old starlet is USA’s Hailey Baptiste, who is also playing in her maiden Wimbledon main draw.